chapter 20

After confirming that every resident of Shielin Town had returned, we helped out with the restoration that took place during the next two days.

The fight that ensued had zero casualties.

After that, we set off to return to Izuruli City.

And now, we were in an open-air bath.

“Haah~! We made it back alive!”

I did some stretching to relieve my exhaustion, while Veig and Luke-san laughed at me as they saw me do so.

“Are you an old man?”

“I can’t help it, ya know? I haven’t been in a bath for around a week.”

Sighing, I rubbed my whole body in order to soothe it.

“Asou Aruto-kun, with the information of that dungeon you’ve given us, we’ve been able to create a new map. We give you our thanks.”

Luke-san bowed his head.

…Please don’t do that in the bath.

“S-stop! Please don’t bow your head!”

Upon hearing that, Luke-san raised his head.

“I’d heard of it from Veig already, but you’re a very capable man!”

Veig…

Don’t say such embellished things!

“Aruto-kun. Do you really have no interest in joining the knights?”

Another invitation, huh…

“Sorry, but my answer remains the same. Besides, I think being an adventurer suits me more.”

“Hm, I see…”

Veig shared a laugh with Luke-san, whose expression was saying something like that’s too bad.

“See? He’s a tough guy to crack, huh?”

“Oi, Veig. Did you tell Luke-san anything weird?”

“I told him you were reckless,” Veig said.

Well, I can’t deny that…

Suddenly, Luke-san put on a serious expression, and Veig and I changed our expressions in response.

“Anyway, weren’t you, pardon, classless? If so, how’d you obtain such powerful skills?”

“In that dungeon, I obtained a new ability—Skill Copy.”

“Skill Copy?”

Not having heard of that skill before, Veig and Luke-san started to ponder.

I explained everything that had happened to me in the dungeon.

The fight against the Cyclops…

In the middle of it, I received Skill Copy from a mysterious voice.

Come to think of it, that voice…

Whose was it anyway?

“So it allows you to copy the skills of monsters you’ve defeated…”

“That mysterious voice… you don’t have any idea who it is?”

“While that’s unfortunate…”

Something that gave people such a powerful skill…

Could it be God?

Nah, no way it could be…

“Anyway, Aruto-kun, be careful from now on. Just in case the Tiger Demon Fang Army sets their sights on your power…”

The Tiger Demon Fang Army…

They’d definitely take a fancy to this power of mine.

“Got it.”

I couldn’t help but think about this now….

Even if the army became my enemy, I’d have no choice but to keep fighting.

As we got out of the bath, we found that loads of food had been prepared for us.

A party, huh…

It’s been quite a while since I’ve been to one.

“Well, I haven’t had a proper meal in a week.”

When we were in the dungeon, we ate nothing but emergency rations.

“Don’t be embarrassed by this, Aruto-san.”

Meryl cautioned me, while holding a plate of cake in her hands.

This guy…

“Don’t say that to me while eating cake like an idiot.”

“I-I have a second stomach for desserts!”

“… you’ve eaten nothing but cake.”

“Uu…”

She turned as if to run away.

Then, all of a sudden, Garuna, Veig, and Luke-san came up to us.

“Are you two enjoying yourselves?”

“Well, Meryl sure is.”

“Wai-! Aruto-san!?”

“It’s not like I’m…” she said, as she turned away even more.

“Speaking of which, Aruto. Do you drink?”

While saying this, Luke-san brought out a wine bottle.

No, no, I can’t drink.

“Wait, I’m still a minor!”

“…? Aruto, how old are you?”

“Seventeen.”

When I said I was seventeen, Veig and the others looked at me like they had no clue what I was talking about.

“Aruto-san, what’re you saying?”

“Eh?”

“You’re allowed to smoke and drink in Reinbark from 15, y’know?”

…seriously?

As I looked at Meryl, she tilted her head like she didn’t know.

“R-right! Um, I have never drank before.”

“Well, since you two are of age, wanna go drinking?”

Passing glasses around, we all drank wine.

And so, a few minutes later…

“Ahahahahaha! Haha! Funya~, Aruto-sa~n!”

Meryl’s gotten blitzed after just one bottle…

“O-oi. Meryl! Hang in there!”

“I’m hanging in there, though~? Aruto-san, how about you? Why are you multiplying?”

She’s hopeless…

“Ara ara, Meryl-chan. It seems like you’re a lightweight.”

“Aruto, you seem like you can hold your liquor.”

“It’s just my first time drinking, though.”

Saying that, I downed another glass of wine.

“I can still drink~!”

“You should stop!”

“Ah~n! Aruto-san, you’re so stingy!”

“Owa!?”

I took the glass from Meryl to prevent her from drinking even more, but in her stupor, she pushed me down, trying to get the glass back.

“Fufu~. I’ll drink more~!”

Cheeks turning bright red, she knocked me over in her attempt to take the glass back.

Veig, Luke-san, and Garuna all smirked as they looked at us, with no intention to help.

No way around it…

“Time to sober up!”

“Funya~!?”

I hurled Meryl using Iron Claw, and she let out a scream.

She didn’t look like she was hurt at all, though…

Well, this party was pretty good.

The power of Skill Copy… with it, this time, I’ll protect…

Everything important to me!